Modern US locomotive design and operation

[Astronuc]

Locomotives are a complex combination of mechanical and electrical systems. The video shows different parts of a locomotive and their function. A standard mainline freight locomotive develops 4400 hp (3.24 MW) with some developing up to 6000 hp (4.47 MW).

The previous standard from the late 1970s was 3000 hp (2.24 MW).

 

[anorlunda]

That's cool. I'm happy to say that I spent 10 years working in the ALCO locomotive factory building. In the video it is called "Building next to Erie Boulevard"

The consulting company I worked for bought the building and converted it to offices. When we tried to drill holes in the floor for plumbing, we found that it was nearly a meter of reinforced concrete. The floor was designed to resist damage if the crane dropped locomotives. That's a viewpoint not often heard, "Locomotives falling from the sky."

 

[Averagesupernova]

That's a viewpoint not often heard, "Locomotives falling from the sky."

This one did. Kind of...

 

[Averagesupernova]

What's interesting about the Montparnasse train wreck in the pic I posted is very minimal damage was done to the locomotive itself aside from cosmetic. It's been recreated in the movie Hugo and in the children's series Thomas the Tank. I never knew much about it until recently other than it was on the cover of Mr. Big's album Lean Into It. An interesting story to say the least. Imagine being the fireman or engineer and jumping out of that.

 

[dlgoff]

In the video ...

I wonder if the workers there lost their hearing? Looks like a very dangerous work environment.

 

[anorlunda]

View attachment 319428
This one did. Kind of...

I remember that. There was a series of wall posters from the "Oh dang. Great moments in engineering history." series. That picture was one of them.

Another from that series, and my personal favorite, showed a bunch of people looking down at a collapsed RR bridge. If I could find an image of that, I could use it for my PF avatar pic.

 

[anorlunda]

I wonder if the workers there lost their hearing? Looks like a very dangerous work environment.

Nobody cared in the days before OSHA laws. I suffered 80% hearing loss handling empty cans at a soda factory. Nobody mentioned ear protection and at age 18, I was too stupid to think about it.

 

[scottdave]

Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Averagesupernova]

....and at age 18, I was too stupid to think about it.

Lol. I think you can be reassured to know that at least at that age you were perfectly normal. I recall being invincible when I was 18. It's an awesome feeling. I'd sure welcome a little bit of it back.

 

[anorlunda]

The video shows different parts of a locomotive and their function.

What fun it would be to make a locomotive simulator, full size, with full motion, and simulated video scenery viewed out the windows.

 

[Astronuc]

What fun it would be to make a locomotive simulator, full size, with full motion, and simulated video scenery viewed out the windows.

I believe they do for training locomotive engineers.

An example from Canadian Pacific (CP)

GO Train


HENSOLDT offers full scale replica cab simulators for stationary or motion-based installations. I believe this is for EU markets, but in theory could be made for US and Canadian markets.
https://www.hensoldt.net/services/simulation/full-motion-train-simulator-simsphere-train/

 

[berkeman]

Imagine being the fireman or engineer and jumping out of that.

What fun it would be to make a locomotive simulator, full size, with full motion, and simulated video scenery viewed out the windows.

 

[russ_watters]

What amazes me is just how small/weak the engines are for locomotives. Even 6,000 hp is just 30 decently powered cars. Yet the locomotive itself weighs more than those 30 cars, as does each of the hundred rail cars that follows. It really drives home how efficient rail travel is, while explaining why the acceleration/deceleration is sooooo slow.

 

[Astronuc]

What amazes me is just how small/weak the engines are for locomotives. Even 6,000 hp is just 30 decently powered cars. Yet the locomotive itself weighs more than those 30 cars, as does each of the hundred rail cars that follows.

Horsepower (MW) is one factor, and tractive effort is another factor. The weight of the locomotive and wheel geometry in conjunction with the rail geometry ensures a locomotive or set of locomotives can pull a train. Usually, more than one locomotive is used depending on train tonnage and ruling grade; wheel slip is a concern, as is train-track dynamics (including stopping ability) and truck/wheel-rail forces/interactions.

It used to be cars were limited to about 263,000 lbs (131.5 T) gross weight (tare + freight load = light weight + load limit). Then the gross weight was increased to 286,000 lbs (143 T), and trains have normally been 100 cars +/- 20 (4500 - 6700 ft), but railroads have limited train length to about 180 cars (12,000 ft/3657 m) on mainline railroads in US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_trains
There are special cases or exceptions.
https://www.freightcourse.com/longest-freight-trains/

Usually, long trains will use distributed power units (DPU) mid-train and at the end for a total of 6-9 on flat/level grade and more on mountain grades.

UP's exception - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jan-13-la-me-monster-train13-2010jan13-story.html

I found an article on the desire for longer trains, which states, "the upper limit on North American freight trains is generally in the 170-220 car range, totally 14,000 feet or so, with average weights of around 14,000 tons or less. The record breaking trains above were found to be impractical and subsequently weren’t run at this length during normal operation. The average freight train is smaller at a little over a mile, but this average has still increased around 25% since 2008."
https://zmodal.com/2020/04/30/trains-are-longer-and-heavier-than-ever/